A recent Presidential directive ordering U.S. immigration quotas spread among refugees in all countries instead of only in the American zone of Germany as originally directed by President Truman last December, has slashed immigration from Germany to the United States by two-thirds during the month of July, it was learned here today.
Heretofore the German quota, for example, was filled entirely by German refugees residing in the American zone who could meet all other requirements. Under the new order, however, the total German quota is distributed among all countries so that German refugees now residing in England or other countries can also emigrate to the United States.
In Berlin, the old quota system provided for the emigration of 300 Germans, but in July this figure was cut to 100. The Polish allotment, formerly 25, is now eight, while the Baltic, Rumanian, and Hungarian quotas have either been wiped out completely or set at one person per month.
The present backlog on the Polish quota has reached such proportions that a Polish national applying for immigration to the United States must wait at least two years and possibly more, since many are applying each day at the same time that the visas allotments are decreasing.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
